Infinity and Finitude

In the early modern period, the distinction between “finite” (finitus) and “infinite” (infinitus) was traditionally grounded in God’s creative power. This established a clear divide between those entities which are finite and that which is infinite. Spinoza’s notorious rejection of this metaphysical chasm via his identification of God with Nature and claim that anything that is, is in God (E1p15), met with signification opposition. Many took the very natures of being finite and infinite as necessarily incompatible, such that what is finite cannot be said to be “in” or “follow from” what is infinite. We begin by reviewing the different aspects of Spinoza’s metaphysics that he refers to as “infinite” and explain in what sense they are infinite. These include the infinity of substance, the infinite attributes, and the infinite modes. Subsequently we will review Spinoza’s answer to a possible objection in Ep12 and E1p15s. Finally we shall consider Spinoza’s characterization of finite things and interpretative routes scholars have taken in this regard.